The case of the downed Mi-24 was reclassified to a heavier article

The case of the downed Mi-24 was re-qualified for a more serious article. Servicemen at the crash site of the Russian Mi-24 helicopter

The case of the downed Mi-24 was reclassified to a heavier article

MilitaryEzyInfo.com | The criminal case on the crash of a military helicopter Mi-24 on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan was re-qualified by Russian military investigators for a more serious article – premeditated murder, an informed source said.

“The criminal case, which was initially initiated under Article 351 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of the rules of flights or preparation for them, resulting in death by negligence) was re-qualified to a more serious article – Part 2 of Art. 105 (Intentional murder of two or more persons), ”a source told Interfax.

He clarified that if in the first case punishment is provided for up to seven years in prison, then in the second – up to life imprisonment. The source also noted that this decision was made based on the results of the investigative and operational actions taken within the framework of the case.

“With all the seeming evidence of the crime, the investigators had to first initiate a criminal case under the article under which such incidents are usually investigated. And then to collect materials for a more accurate qualification of the act, which was done, ”he explained.

However, he found it difficult to say how long the investigation will take. “There are certain difficulties associated with the fact that the suspects are on the territory of another state,” the source said. According to him, the case is being investigated by military investigators based at the Russian base in Gyumri.

In early November 2020, a Russian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down in the airspace over the territory of Armenia from a portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) outside the combat zone. Baku admitted that Azerbaijan shot down a Russian Mi-24 helicopter, fearing possible provocations from the Armenian side. President Ilham Aliyev apologized in connection with the destruction of the helicopter, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan opened a criminal case on the incident. They said in Baku that the guilty will be punished.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding the Order of Courage to the crew members of the Mi-24 helicopter shot down in the skies of Armenia.